"Sonic? You awake?"
Sonic's eyelids fluttered as he sat up on the couch. "Yeah, I must have relaxed a bit too much," he told the doctor. The human male propped his leg on his knee as he wrote on his pad. "I know this isn't the first time I've been here but it still feels weird talking about this crap."
"First of all, it's not crap," the therapist said. "You've been through severe physical, emotional, and mental trauma that, honestly, most people would never recover from. The fact that you have come this far is a testament to your force of will and , you sought me out, not the other way around. You've been coming to me since you were released from the hospital two months ago and I have to admit I was hoping to see a bit more progress than we've had. You're still throwing up a number of emotional barriers especially when it comes to family and relationships."
"I barely know my family, doc," Sonic said for what felt like the hundredth time. "I know that they left me in Mobotropolis when I was five and then come back into my life when I was eighteen. Then I get dragged here and everyone expects me to just accept everything that's going on. My sister is nearly half my age and I only met her a few months ago. So there's nothing to talk about there."
"And what of the fact that they left you with your uncle at such a young age? No doubt you harbor some resentment towards your parents for leaving you like that regardless of their reasons. As for your sister, I can understand your frustration there but the simple answer is that time together will help the two of you bond. From what you've told me she's already taken quite a liking to you." Sonic smiled at that.
"Yeah, Violet's a pretty cool kid," he said. "As for my folks I guess you're right. But I don't know how to go about fixing the problem. I'm a little more forgiving of my mom but my dad I just wanna pummel."
"A perfectly natural reaction, that I can assure you," the therapist said with a smirk. "Why I can think of several people in Xenodome that want to beat the tar out of your father." The two of them chuckled, relieving some of the tension. "I can't tell you the best way to handle the issues the three of you have other than to get them out into the open. After that a solution will likely present itself. Now, moving on to the relationships in your life..."
"That's far enough right there, doc," Sonic interrupted, now sitting up completely and turning to sit on the couch proper. "If there's one thing I don't want to talk about it's that. I have enough going on in my life without opening that can of worms."
"And if you never open that can the wounds will continue fester and prevent you from moving past losing what you see as the defining characteristic of who you are: your speed." Sonic grimaced but he knew the doctor was right. "Let's start with something simple, aside from any sexual relationships or your family."
"And now I'm uncomfortable," Sonic said. "Seriously, couldn't you have worded that better?"
"The woman living with you is grateful to you because you saved her live," the doctor said referring to Fiona. "There's also Miss Mongoose that you visit at St. Claire's on a regular basis after the two of you escaped the Highwind. Both of the major relationships you've developed in your time here involved saving their lives. And while I believe this stems from your failed engagement..." Sonic had to bite his tongue to the point of tasting blood..."I'm not interested in those. What about a relationship with a teacher or mentor, someone that had a profound impact on your life."
That got Sonic thinking. "Actually there is someone, my sensei," he admitted, lying back on the couch as the therapist began scratching down notes. "The first time I left the Freedom Fighters I was looking for a way to stop Robotnik, something new that he wouldn't expect. My other teacher had been captured and I found myself wandering the wilderness. Then after a couple weeks of travelling I happened on this dojo out in the middle of nowhere."
"And you found this dojo completely by accident?"
"Now that you mention it I did feel like I was being directed there," he pointed out. "Anyway, the old man there, my sensei, offered to teach me the way of the sword. It was brutal to say the least and I nearly gave up more than once. But since I was too stubborn to I eventually worked my way into his top class. It was then we were given our final lesson before we could move on to the final tier: we had to kill in cold blood."
"Not just kill someone but kill them for no reason at all?" Sonic nodded. "You're right, that is brutal. What happened?"
"I refused. I threw the sword my sensei had given me on the ground and refused to complete the lesson. I remember that he was so furious with me that he banished me from the dojo. He said that if I ever showed my face there again that he would personally handle me and gave me the sword so I would be able to defend myself until that day came."
"So you haven't been back then I take it." Sonic laughed nervously.
"I happen to like being in one piece," he replied. "Anyway, what would be the point in going back? I didn't complete the lesson so there's nothing to go back to."
"I suggest it because you left the training unfinished," the doctor explained. "Surely there must be some lesson in that even if most people would agree with your reasoning. And from what you've told me haven't you already killed?" Sonic looked away as he remembered what had happened on the Highwind. "You had no way to know whether the guards you killed had anything to do with what happened to Mina. You simply killed them. You passed judgment on them for what their comrades did. I'd say that qualifies as a cold-blooded kill."
"What they did to her... They all deserved to die," Sonic said coldly. His cheeks burned with shame upon hearing those words from his own lips.
"And I doubt that you will find a jury in this city that would disagree with you," his therapist said. "But at the same time you see what I'm saying. The mindset you have right now is one that a true killer would never have. They wouldn't be upset at the thought of judging a group of people to die no matter what had or hadn't happened."
"So you think I should head back?"
"In the end that's up to you," the doctor said with a shrug. "If you believe your teacher will kill you then you need to decide if the risk is worth it. If it is then you may find some closure in completing the task you were originally charged with. If not then it's best to work past it without dwelling on it." He flipped through his notes. "Now, I would like to talk a bit about your personal relationships..."
It was another half-hour before Sonic left his office. He normally felt better after visiting the therapist but today was different. Thinking about his sensei brought up a slew of emotions he'd rather not deal with any time soon. He debated between simply shifting home or going for a run...
Oh. Right. Can't do that anymore. He felt a stabbing pain in his gut at the thought of not being able to run but settled on shifting home. He opened the door to see a fairly large package sitting on the table. The address was from the military hospital so that meant they were likely from Dr. Osaka. He opened the box and pulled out a letter addressed to him.
"Sonic, figured you needed this more than I do. If you ever need to talk I'm here. Your friend, Adrian."
Sonic pulled out a medium-sized bottle filled with an amber fluid. On the label it said, "Mobian Brandy 85 proof", not that any of that made sense to him. Another bottle said, "Orsallian single malt Scotch 90 proof" and the last one had "Draco Ice Wine 13% ABV".
"Seriously, why do people keep sending me things?" Sonic asked. He sighed and put two bottles on a shelf and the ice wine on a small wine rack Fiona had bought. With that done he picked Kaiyō Mujō up from her stand in the living room and headed outside to try and meditate. Ever since he'd returned from the Highwind she'd been conversing with him less and less until it was more or less just him sitting in the yard with the sword in his lap. Despite all of that he kept asking for her help every day hoping to have a sympathetic ear who gave better advice than a doctor he was paying out the nose for. He held Kaiyō Mujō in front of him, his frustration with everything building.
"Fuzen, Kaiyō Mujō!" he yelled but nothing happened. He sighed and sheathed the sword before affixing her to the small of his back. He had expected as much but still held out that she'd actually awaken. "As much as I hate admitting it maybe the doc is right about finishing my training," he said with a shake of his head. "If nothing else maybe the threat of death will get me out of this funk."
"You plan on going somewhere?" Sonic turned to see Fiona standing at the back door in an orange and white jumpsuit with matching boots and gloves. Her red hair hung freely today rather than its traditional braid and he could see a small yellow bow peeking out between her ears. "You look more like you're having performance issues."
"Very funny," Sonic said as he walked back into the house. "I've just got a lot on my mind right now."
"Yeah, I've heard that one before." Sonic glanced at his housemate who had a coy expression on her face. "Seriously, where were you planning on heading?"
"To go visit my sensei," Sonic explained as he headed up the stairs with Fiona close behind. "Apparently there are some people who think I'm leaving behind too much unfinished business."
"Like your therapist?" Sonic stopped at the top of the steps. "Listen, it's not hard to see that you have some serious issues right now. But just talking to that girl in the nut house and some doctor doesn't cut it. Trust me on that. You need someone who understands what it's like to have everything taken away."
"And you would know what that's like?" Sonic asked as he entered his room.
"I know what it's like to be hurt, physically and emotionally," Fiona answered as she closed the door behind them. "I won't pretend to know what you're going through but if you just bottle it up it's going to tear you apart from the inside out. And I care about you too much to watch that happen."
"And you think there's anything that can stop that from happening?" Sonic asked, turning around only to have Fiona lock lips with him. He resisted at first, trying to separate them but Fiona would have none of that. He finally caved in, their kiss quickly growing more and more passionate as Fiona pinned him on the bed. As if possessed he felt his hands undo the zipper on her jumpsuit as she tore his jacket and shirt off.
Sometime later Sonic and Fiona lay under the covers of Sonic's bed, their bodies still intertwined. She was cuddled up next to him, soundly asleep while Sonic tried to figure out what had just happened. It wasn't that it hadn't been good, it had been mind-blowing. But what did this mean for the two of them? Not what I expected to happen today but I'm not complaining, he thought and pulled her into his chest. Still, what does she get out of this? There has to be some reason for this.
"You think too much," Fiona muttered as she smacked her lips. "Sometimes sex is just sex."
"And my life has proven that nothing is ever that simple," Sonic replied. Fiona looked up at him and he greeted her gaze with a kiss. "Still, I'll take your suggestion under advisement." She chuckled as she snuggled into his chest.
"I take it you feel better now," she said and Sonic nodded. "It doesn't just have to be about sex if you want. I wasn't kidding about having someone to talk to."
"Where is this coming from all of a sudden?" Sonic asked and Fiona shrugged.
"When I first ran into Mogul he took me from my home, forcing me to leave behind my family and friends," she explained. "After that he put the Choker on me and I was forced to obey his every whim." She shuddered as the memories came bubbling to the surface. "I was seven at the time and he paraded me around like I was some prize he'd won."
"I didn't know," Sonic said but Fiona shook her head.
"I didn't want anyone to know," she said gazing into his eyes. "You're the first person I've ever told about that." Sonic held her closer as Fiona's breathing slowed again as she fell asleep. As he listened to her breaths he shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
It was another two days before Sonic decided to go visit Mina. His visit was brief as she was in the middle of her own therapy. He could tell that she was doing significantly better than he was, not to say that she was anywhere close to fine. He told her about going to see his sensei and she wished him luck, knowing that going back to someone who had threatened to kill you wasn't the best of plans.
Standing outside of St. Claire's Sonic checked his list of people to touch base with. He had already seen his folks and little sister, stopped by the hospital and thanked Dr. Osaka for all the alcohol, seen Fiona (several times in fact), even told his therapist that he was taking his advice. He'd also made a point to visit a lawyer and have a will drawn up in the event that things panned out more or less how he was expecting them to.
Once he was sure that everything had been handled he wandered into a dark alley where he was sure he wouldn't be seen. He pictured the dojo in his mind and before long he felt the wind surround him. When that passed he felt the sting of the cold mountain air around him. He opened his eyes only to stare at the large wooden doors that would take him into the courtyard.
"Well, here goes nothing," he muttered and pushed the doors open.